US FTC sues Shutterstock over subscription plans

Published: 2026-05-13 10:46:33 ET SSTK

Published on 05/13/2026 at 10:46 am EDT - Modified on 05/13/2026 at 10:52 am EDT

NEW YORK, May 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued Shutterstock on Wednesday, accusing the online provider of stock photography, graphics and videos of misleading consumers about its subscription plans.

In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, the FTC said many Shutterstock subscription plans have complicated and onerous terms that the company deceptively presents as simple. It also said Shutterstock makes it too hard to cancel its "annual, paid monthly" plans.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)